Auto-drive.



A. O. TURNER.

AUTO DRIVE.

APPLIUA'IION PILEI) SBPT.1'3,1913.

1, 11 3,0?1 Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOR flan 20). Farmer N it By X60 ATTORNEYS A. O. TURNER.

AUTO DRIVE.

APPLICATION IILED SEPT.16,1913.

1,1 1 3,071 Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WITNESSES & MENTOR 3 $04247 0. Z d lP-lJ/lO -Y N By(/(W 4% ATTORNEYS VIII/(IA Patented 0ct.6,1914.

4 SHEETSSHBET 3.

LNVE/VTOR W736? AX/(AME ATTORNEYS A. O. TURNER.

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WIT/11588.50

QWM/ 4' 66 A. O. TURNER.

AUTO DRIVE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1013.

1,1 1 3,0771. Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS rrn s'ra rns ATENT OFFICE.

ALONZO OLLIF TURNER, F TAMPA, FLORIDA.

AUTO-DRIVE.

' of which the following is a specifi My invention is an improvement inautomobile drives, and has for its object to provide a drive of thecharacter specified, especially adapted for heavy trucks and. the like,and wherein a separate support is provided for the motor and theoperating mechanism, the said support being connected to the front axle,and having steering mechanism connected therewith, to move the samewhereby to guide the vehicle, and wherein the motor is connected withthe four wheels, to directly drive the same.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the frame of anautomobile constructed-in accordance with the invention. Fig. 1 is areduced view showing the posi' tion of the parts when turning, Figs. 2,3, 4 and 6 are sections on the lines,2-2, 3-3, 4l4, and 6-6,respectively of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 5is a detail top plan view of the roller support, and Fig. 7 is aperspective view of the support for the transmission.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises a. substantiallyrectangular frame, consisting of longitudinal bars 1 and a connectingend bar 2 at the rear of the said bars 1, and the bars 1 areconnectedadjacent to the front axle 3 by a pair of laterally spaced parallel bars5, and adjacent to the rear axle they are slidably connected. to a pairof laterally spaced parallel bars 6.

At the center of each pair of bars 5 and (3, a fifth wheel is arranged.The fifth wheel at the front axle 3 consists of upper and lower sections7 and 8, and a roller bearing 9 is arranged between the said sections.The lower section 8 of the fifth wheel is provided with an upwardlyextending pivot or journal pin 10, :which passes through a centralopening in the upper section 7, and a nut 11 is threaded on a pin abovethe upper section. A washer 12 is arranged below the nut. and a cotterpin 18 is passed through the pin above the nut.

The rear fifth wheel consists of upper and lower sections 14 and 15, theupper section being integral with the bars, and the sections areseparated by a roller bea g Specification of Letters 1 .1mm.

Application filed September 16, 1913.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

Serial No. 789,980.

16, and the lower section is provided with a pivot or journal pin 17passing upwardly through the center of the upper section, and the pin isengaged by a nut 18 in the same manner as the pin 10. A washer 19 isarranged below the nut, and a cotter pin 20 is arranged above the nut.

The lower section 8 of the fifth wheel at the front of the truck is atthe center of a bolster 21, and the bolster is connected to the housing22 of the front axle by means of the usual springs 23. The lower section15 of the rear fifth wheel is at the center of a rear bolster 9.5, andthe said bolster is connected to. the housing 26 of the rear axle bymeans of springs 27.

The bars 1 are slidably connected with what may be considered as therear truck, and comprising the rear-axle, the bolster 25, the bars 6,the rear fifth wheel, and integral end connections 28 between the saidbars 6: A pair of journal pins in the form of vertically arranged bolts29 is connected with the truck at each bar 1, the journal pins of eachpair being arranged on opposite sides of the adjacent bar 1. Aroller 30is journaled on each journal pin, and each roller is provided at each ofits ends with an-annular flange or rib 31. The flanges or ribs 31 engagethe upper and lower faces of the bars 1, the said bars being I-beams inthe present instance.

Each roller is held in place by means of a nut 32 at the upper end ofthe bolt, and the said bolts are possed through the in: tegralconnections 29. It will be noticed from an inspection of Figs. 3 and 4that the lower section of each fifth wheel is provided with oppositelyarranged arc-shaped ribs 33, which engage corresponding grooves in theadjacent face of the adjacent upper section. Each of the axles 3 and 4is solid or integral from end to end, and wheels are secured to the endsof each of the said axles. A bevel gear wheel 36 is secured to each axlenear the center thereof, in an enlargement of the adjacent housing, andeach bevel gear is engaged by a bevel pinion 37 for driving the saidalxe.

The pinion 37 at the front axle is secured to the front end of a frontdriving shaft 38, and the pinion 37 at the rear axle is secured to theadjacent end of a rear driving shaft 39.. The rear end of the drivingshaft 38 is connected to a stub shaft 40, by means of a universal joint41., and the front end ofthe rear driving shaft is connected to asimilar. stub shaft 42 by means of a similar joint The stub shafts l1and 42 are journaled in bearings in the side walls of upper and lowercasings 44; and 15 respectively.

The casing 4:1 is arranged directly above the casing 15, and anoperating shaft 46 1S journaled in vertical position in the two casings.Each end of the said shaft is reduced and screw-threaded -for engagementby a nut, the nut 47 being threaded onto the upper end of the shaft, andthe nut 48 on the lower end. A ball bearing 49 is arranged between thelower end of the casing 45 and a Washer 50 adjacent to the nut 48, and awasher 51 is arranged below the nut 47. A second ball bearing/52 isarranged at the lower end of the upper casing, and each casing isprovided with a removable head 53 and 54 respectively, the said headsbeing secured in place by means of bolts 55. A bevel gear 56 is securedto the shaft 46 in the casing 4-5, and the said bevel gear meshes with apinion 57 on the inner end of the 'stub shaft 42.

A sleeve 58 is secured to the shaft 46 in the casing/14, and the saidsleeve carries two series of bevel gear teeth, forming bevel gears 59and 60. The bevel gear 60 is engaged by a pinion 61 on the stub shaft40, and the bevel gear 59 is engaged by a pinion 62. on the engine shaft63, the rear end of the said engine shalt being journale'd in a hearing'64 in the front wall of the upper casing 44: The sleeve 58 which carriesthe bevel gears 59 and 60 is internally enlarged, and the lower endofthe upper casing 44. is provided with a tubular extension 65 whichextends upwardly into the enlargement, and a ball bearing 66 is arrangedbetween the lower end of the sleeve and the bottom of the said. uppercasing.

The casing 4- 1; is arranged within the supporting; frame 67, shown inFig. 7, the said frame being of tubular material, as shown in Figs. 2and 6, and having upper and lower bearings 68 and 69 respectively forthe operating shaft 46.- It will be noted that the bearing 68 is muchsmaller than the bearing 69, for the reason that the ball bearing 52 isarranged between the lower end of the shaft and the bearing 59. Theupper casing is held within the frame 67, and the lower casing issupported by the lower end. of the shaft. The bolt 47 and the washer 51rest upon the upper face of the bearing 68, to prevent downward m wementof the shaft.

The frame 67 has a rearward extension 70, and the under face of the saidextension is channeled, as shown in Fig. 2, to receive bearing rollers71, and the said rollers roll upon an are-shaped cross bar 72 arrangedbelow the frame proper, and connected to the bars 1 at its end by meansof brackets 73, the said brackets being secured to the bars 1, as shown.Arms 7 1 extend forwardly from the frame 67 and then up wardly, to anintegral connection with the front bolster 21, and the motor 75 issupported by the said arms and between the same.

At the rear end of the motor a cross bar 76 connects the arms, and atthe front end of the motor a steering bar 77 is arranged, the said barbeing secured to the arms 7-1 and extending beyond the said arms beyondthe frame members 1. The ends of the steering bar are connected springs24, the said springs being connected to the ends of the front bolster21. The frame 67 and the arms 74 are swung laterally to steer thevehicle, and the said frame is moved laterally by means of a steeringshaft 78. The said shaft is journaled in a bearing 79 on one of the bars1, and is provided at its upper end with a steering wheel 80. The shaftis also sup orted by a bearing 81 below the bar 1, t e bearing havingbracket arms 82 extending above and'secured to the "adjacent bar 1.

A flexible member 83 in the form of a rope or cable has its endsconnected to .eyes 84 at the front corners of the frame 67. -From one ofthe eyes, the flexible member passes to a reel '78 on the shaft 78 andwinds upon thesame. Fromthe other eye the flexible member passes over apulley 85 journal'd on the lower end of a depending bracket 86, andthence across the body to the reel.

It will be evident that when the shaft is oscillated in eitherdirection, the frame 67 will be moved toward one side or the other ofthe frame, the direction depending upon the direction of rotation of theshaft. The swinging of the frame will swing the front truck comprisingthe front axle and the front bolster, to change the direction 'of motion of the vehicle. The rear driving shaft 39 is supported near itsconnection with the stub shaft 42 by means of a sleeve 87 and a bushing88'is arranged between the sleeve and the shaft. The sleeve is supportedby to the rear ends of the braces 89,- the said braces being connected 1to the rear bolster 25.

In operation, when the motor is running,

the engine shaft 63: will be rotated, and will in turn rotate theoperating shaft, through the connection of the pinion 62 with the bevelgear 59. The bevel gear 60 will rotate the pinion 61, and through thefrontdriving shaft the front axle 3will be rotated. The operating shaft46 will also be rotated, and will rotate the rear driving shaft39,through the bevel gear 56, the pinion 57, and the stub shaft 42. When itis desired to change the direction of motion of the truck, the steeringwheel 80 is oscillated in the proper direction, to swing thetransmission mechanism and its supporting frame to one side or theother, the said.

frame being supported by the bar 72 at its rear end, and by the arms 74at its front end.

The rear truck has a limited angular movement with respect to the mainframe of the truck, as shown in Fig. 1*, and the universal joints l-land 423 permit the trans mission to be changed with respect to thedriving shafts, without interfering with the driving of the front andthe rear axles. Each wheel is driven. and by reason of the four wheeldrive, a large amount of strain is taken off of the rear wheels. theZlltl strain being distributed to all of the wheels. The casings l4. andare filled with oil. as shown in Fig. 6, so that the transmissionmechanism moves in a path of oil at all times.

I claim:

1. An automobile drive, comprising a substantially rectangularsupporting frame, front and rear axles arranged below the frame, abolster at each axle below the frame, each bolster carryingthe lowersection of a fifth wheel, the upper section of the front fifth wheelbeing rigid with the frame, a housing for each axle, a support for theupper section of the rear fifth wheel, a sliding connection between theframe and each end of the support, springs connecting each bolster withthe housing of the adjacent axle, an auxiliary frame extendingrearwardly from the front bolster, an areshaped guide bar arrangedtransversely of the frame at the rear end of the auxiliary frame, saidframe having an extension moving on the guide bar, means for swin ingthe auxiliary frame, a motor supported by the auxiliary frame near thefront axle, transmission mechanism supported by the auxiliary frame atits rear end and connected to the motor, a drive shaft extending fromthe transmission toward inch axle, each drive. shaft having a drivingconnection with the adjacent axle, the swinging means for the auxiliaryframe comprising a vertical shaft jOlll'llillCtl at one side of theframe, a steering wheel secured to the shaft, a reel secured to the.lower end of the shaft. a pulley journaled on the frame at the oppositeside from the steering shaft. a flexible member having its endsconnected to the opposite sides of the auxiliary frame, said memberpassing from its connection at the side adjacent to the sha ft to thereel and winding on the reel and passing thence transwa'selv of theframe and over the pulley to its connection with the opposite side ofthe auxiliary frame.

3. An automobile drive. comprising a substantially rectangularsupporting frame.

axles arranged below the frame, the front axle being at the front of theframe and the rear axle being near the rear of the frame, a bolster ateach axle below the frame. each bolster carrying the lower section of afifth wheel, the upper section of the front fifth wheel being rigid withthe frame, a housing. for each axle, a support for the upper section ofthe rear llfth wheel, a sliding connection between the frame and eachend of the support, springs connecting each bolster with the housing ofthe adjacent axle, an auxiliary frame extending rearwardly from thefront bolster, an arc-shaped guide bar arranged transversely of theframe at the rear end of the auxiliary frame, said frame having anextension moving on the guide bar, means for swinging the auxiliaryframe, a motor supported by the auxiliary frame near the front axle,transmission mechanism supported by the auxiliary frame at its rear endand connected to the motor, and a drive shaft extending from thetransmission toward each axle, each drive shaft having a drivingconnection with the adjacent axle.

3. An automobile drive, comprising a substantially rectangular frame, afront and rear axle below the frame, a housing for each axle, a bolsterfor each axle arranged above the axle, springs connecting each bolsterto the adjacent axle housing, a pivotal connection between the frontb01- ster and the frame, a support arranged transversely of the framebetween the rear bolster and frame and movable with respect to theframe, a pivotal connection between: the bolster and the support, anauxiliary frame extending rcarwardly from the front holster, sa idauxiliary frame being adapted to carry a motor, transmission mechanismcarried by the auxiliary frame and connected tothe motor, a drivingconnection between the transmission mechanism and. each axle. means onthe frame for swinging the auxiliary frame, a guide bar arrangedtransversely of the frame below the same at the rear end of theauxiliary frame, said frame. having an extension moving on the guidebar.

-l-. An automobile drive. comprising a substantially rectangular frame,a front and rear axle below the frame, a housing for (:H'll axle. abolster for each axle arranged above the axle, springs cmmecting eachbolster to the adjacent axle housing, a piiotal connection between thefront bolster and the frame, a support arranged traumceaely of the framebetween the rear bolster frame and movable with respect to th frame, apivotal connection between the bolste and the support. an auxiliaryframe extending rearwardly from the front bololer, said auxiliary' framebeing adapted to carry a moto transmission mechanism carried y theauxiliary frame and connected to the motor. a driving connection betweenthe t ansmission mechanism and each axle, and m ans on the frame forswinging the auxiliary frame.

5. An automobile drive, comprising a sub- Stantial'ly rectangular frame,front and rear axles for the fran'ie, a bolster for each axle andconnected thereto, a pivotal connection 5 between the front bolster andthe frame, a

support arranged transversely of the rear end of the frame and slidablyconnected to the frame, a pivotal connection between the rear bolsterand the support. an auxiliar frame extending rearwardly lrom the frontbolster anrl :ulaptml to support a 1l1()ll()l,tl2lll5 missionn'iechani'sm carried by the auxiliary frame, anrl adapted for connectionwith the motor, a driving connection between the transmission mechanismaml each axle, and

means on the frame for swinging the auxiliary frame.

(5. An automobile drive, co1nprising,a substantially rectangular frame,front and rear axles for the frame, a bolster for each axle an lconnected thereto, a pivotal connection between the front bolster andthe frame, a support arranged transversely of the rear (lill olthc frameand slitlably connected to the Frame. a pivotal connection between therear bolster an l the support, an auxiliary frame extending rearu'anllyfrom the front i'mlster aml :ltlilPtOtl to support a motor, v aml meanson the frame for swinging the l auxiliary frame.

ALONZO ()LLIF TURNER. Witnesses:

(. ll. liLumaxru, (Hus. l Ali'lLll'lT.

